North Korea deploys 1,000 demining experts to Russia’s Kursk region

North Korea’s demining efforts have begun in Russia’s Kursk region, according to an announcement from the Russian government on November 14. Moscow confirmed for the first time that North Korean military engineers are clearing mines planted by Ukrainian forces along the border.

Russia’s state-run newspaper Red Star reported that North Korean military experts are conducting “a highly complex mission” alongside Russian engineers. The outlet praised North Korean forces previously deployed near the border earlier this year, saying Special Operations units “repelled the enemy” and made “important contributions” to pushing Ukrainian troops out of the Kursk area.

The confirmation follows earlier remarks by Kursk Governor Alexander Hinstein, who said in June that Pyongyang agreed to send 5,000 construction workers and 1,000 demining specialists. He added that North Korean engineers arrived in September to support mine-clearance operations.

According to Red Star, the North Korean teams are working with Russian specialists to remove “hundreds of different types of explosive devices” left by Ukrainian forces. The report says the area contains mines hidden in “everyday objects, children’s toys, and even inside the bodies of dead soldiers.”

It adds that U.S., British and Bulgarian shells; anti-tank and anti-personnel mines; grenades; and ammunition from automatic grenade launchers—all used by NATO-member militaries—are among the items being cleared.

The outlet also mentions U.S.-made Claymore mines, Finland’s Hailstorm fragmentation mines and several types of magnetic and Spanish-made mines, some of which it claims are too easily triggered.

Because many explosives are new to North Korean teams, Russia has prepared detailed manuals and training programs. Video from Russian newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda shows North Korean engineers learning how to counter drones, operate mine-removal robots and use detection equipment to dismantle NATO-manufactured explosives.

A photo released by Red Star shows a North Korean soldier holding a remote control for an Uran-6 demining bulldozer. The outlet says North Korean specialists also use Stalker-IB robots and other Russian equipment.

North Korean engineers have been issued upgraded OVR-2-02 protective suits and special footwear designed to shield them from explosions. However, Red Star notes that the teams must operate “under extremely difficult conditions,” including Ukrainian drone attacks and shelling.

In a symbolic detail, Red Star reported that each North Korean soldier carried a small pouch of homeland soil before leaving for Russia and keeps it protected “as something especially precious.” The paper said the engineers regard the soil of Kursk “as if it were their own” and are working to help residents return to normal life as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported earlier this month that about 10,000 North Korean troops were relocated closer to the Russia–Ukraine border to perform public security duties. This follows growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow amid the ongoing war.

BY MOOYOUNG LEE   [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com]